Immerse in a carefree and fun festive spirit that includes water splashing and graceful rituals, along with special holiday-themed extras.

Book stays in Oasis Retreat, Serenity Club rooms or any of the suite categories and enjoy complimentary cocktails for two persons at Saffron Sky Garden restaurant (per room, per stay), free WiFi / Internet and daily breakfast at Romsai Restaurant. Serenity Club and suite guests will also get a complimentary Club Lounge access.

For guests wishing to take part in one of the city’s biggest and most lively wet and wild street splashfests, a complimentary “Tuk-tuk” shuttle to the popular Silom Road tourist spot will be provided, along with his/hers festive shirts and waterproof carry-case to protect valuables and mobile phones from the good-natured water-gun ‘crossfire’ of fellow partygoers, who flock to the downtown shopping district each year for the delightfully drenching festivities.

SONEVA HAS LAUNCHED its first ever year-long campaign known as a ‘Festival of Colour’ to celebrate the diverse array of guest activities and experiences on offer this year, ranging from visiting Michelin-starred chefs and astronomers, through to authors, champion free-divers, artists and more.

Each month of the year is associated with a different colour and theme, which will be brought to life at Soneva’s resorts in the Maldives and Thailand through special on-site events and collaborations. Underscoring the Festival of Colour is a series of short “colour” films created by the renowned French film director Bruno Aveillan. Bruno visited Soneva Kiri, Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani in early 2017 to shoot the films, which were inspired by the different colours he found at the resorts.

Soneva plans to release one colour film each month during the campaign on its website and on social media.

As part of the Festival of Colour, Soneva has confirmed a huge line-up of visiting experts, including chefs, authors, wine producers, world-champion free-divers, astronomers, artists, wellness practitioners, tennis coaches and more at all resorts.

Fine dining experiences are a pivotal part of Soneva’s Festival of Colour, and the company has so-far confirmed 28 of the world’s top chefs (many of which have at least two Michelin stars and above or are included within The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list) for exclusive dinner events.

TO CELEBRATE THAI NEW YEAR, Banyan Tree Samui has launched a “Songkran Indulgence” package at its spa throughout the month of April.

The package combines a 90-minute massage treatment of your choice, with a 60-minute “Rainforest Experience”.

The bamboo-themed Rainforest is a refreshing journey through a series of water jets at varying pressures and temperatures, plus visits to a steam room and sauna followed by ice facial treatments and ice bucket baths.

This treatment is ideal for those with injuries or infirmities who prefer not to have their limbs stretched and popped. It is also the perfect massage if you are sensitive or ticklish. Here, you are in control – no one touches you. You can maintain your legs, body, head and shoulders in positions that either maximize or minimize water pressure.

The two-and-a-half-hour treatment is concluded with a herbal tea served while you lie back on a hot tiled bed, wrapped in towels.

The Songkran festival (Thai New Year) is celebrated on April 12-15 – a time when the entire nation revels in chaotic water fights. It also marks the hottest time of the year in Thailand, with temperatures frequently hitting a sticky 40 °C (104 °F) across the country.

Millions of Southeast Asians like to travel during this period so it’s worth considering the benefits of escaping to the cooler climes of a tropical beach where the sea breezes and swimming pools easily beat the humidity of a big city.

Banyan Tree Samui is nestled into a forested hillside overlooking its own private beach and bay in the Gulf of Thailand. Its 88 villas offer intimacy and tranquility, and each villa has its own infinity pool and Jacuzzi and 24-hour personal butler service.

CENTARA HOTELS & RESORTS has signed an agreement with TreePay Co., Ltd., a specialized payment facilitator, to develop a system to allow Chinese customers to use their mobile phones to pay for accommodations and services at Centara properties.

This will begin with Wechat Pay. Chinese tourists are an important market for Centara and mobile payments using apps like WeChat are extremely popular with Chinese consumers. Centara chose TreePay, a collaboration between CAT Telecom, SKT, and NHN KCP, to help it serve its Chinese guests more conveniently. Okura Co., Ltd. will be the project consultant.

“Our goal to double in size over the next five years will be achieved by serving growing markets better,” said Thirayuth Chirathivat. “Our strategies include opening new properties in China as well as attracting more Chinese to our hotels in Thailand and elsewhere. One way we do this is by improving our service infrastructure. Being able to accept mobile payments is an important component.”

Centara aims to double its number of properties and become a familiar name for travellers throughout Asia, the Indian Ocean and Middle East. The company bases its confidence on a successful formula of Thai hospitality, excellent food, a variety of formats, and family-friendly hotels, in great destinations. It is also investing in technology to serve customers more efficiently through multilingual websites, on their devices, and with high-tech services at Centara hotels.

The TreePay solution will first be introduced at Centara’s hotels and resorts in Thailand within 2018, then rolled out to the company’s other properties.

“We look forward to making our destinations more welcoming and convenient for our Chinese guests, and supporting the expansion of Chinese tourism in this region and the world,” added Chirativat.

“TreePay will be providing China Payment services to Centara Hotels and Resorts, starting with Wechat Pay mobile payments. We aim to become an Omni channel payment facilitator providing a single connection for all payment channels and types. Besides our expertise in payment platforms, we also strive to differentiate ourselves in this competitive market,” said Suvicha Nalita.

WITH A NEW NATURAL SPA and the launch of a wellness experience, “A Mantra for Mantra – the all-new Mantra Samui Resort is attracting spa-goers to its peaceful perch overlooking the Gulf of Thailand.

The Jai Spa is a cornerstone of the hotel’s comprehensive new look. The intimate space has four softly-lit private treatment rooms and a foot reflexology area.

Inspired by the dense jungle that surrounds the hillside property, the spa features bamboo-clad walls that reach up to a lofty ceiling.

The spa blends most of its treatment products in-house, using natural ingredients harvested from its gardens. Thai herbs infuse Jai’s flagship concoctions, using homegrown lemongrass, steamed to create an aromatic atmosphere.

Coconut informs the signature treatment, the Yaa Jai, its milk, not oil, deployed for a deep, tension-releasing massage. Warm coconut poultices are strategically applied to tight spots to further reduce stress.

“One of the mantras we’ve seized on here at Jai is slow-slow-slow,” said Spa Manager Noppawan Rochjanarath “As a famous Buddhist teacher once said: “If we want to live deeply, we’ve got to live slowly.”

The new A Mantra for Mantra’s package has been developed around this idea of helping guests of the resort go deeper when it comes to overall wellness. The three-night stay package for two includes:

Round-trip airport transfer in a private vehicle; Consultation with spa manager on arrival to cover areas of concern and develop a spa plan during the course of the stay; Two treatments per day from the extensive spa menu (per person); Daily healthy meal at The View restaurant (choice of lunch or dinner); Daily breakfast for two; One private meditation class for two (optional); One private yoga class for two (optional).

Spa menu options draw heavily from local traditions and plants with the extensive offering that includes a range of facials, massages, scrubs, and wraps such as: a Thai Lemon Tea scrub, a 60-minute exfoliation using tea and lemon juice; a Thai Tamarind Wrap, which features a decadent blend of tamarind and yogurt slathered over the body, and traditional massages in addition to Ayurvedic treatments.

“A Mantra for Mantra” is available until March 31, 2018. Rates vary by room type. For more information or make a booking please, visit http://mantrasamui.com/

CENTARA HOTELS & RESORTS broke ground in North Pattaya for another COSI hotel – a new brand designed for the modern, connected lifestyle of a growing travel market segment.

It offers friendly, simple and affordable accommodations, with innovations like smartphone integration, self-service check-in, and a unique 24-hour lifestyle café concept with more freedom and flexibility. The first COSI hotel opened in Samui in December.

COSI Pattaya Naklua Beach will offer 282 hi-tech rooms, all with Smart TVs. Free WiFi and convenient USB ports are in every room and throughout the hotel. COSI also features a swimming pool, laundromat, and the all-hours “Hub”, a social hangout and digital play space, with integrated WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) Café.

Guests can enjoy free food and drink there using the daily credits they get with their stay. The location is a short walk to the beach and 5-minutes’ drive to Central Festival Pattaya.

The hotel will open in 2019.

The development of the COSI brand is an integral part of the company’s ambitious, five-year expansion plan. Within that timeframe, Centara expects to add close to 40 more COSI hotels to its portfolio, all situated in resort and city locations throughout Thailand and Asia

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ALLEN THOMAS HAS BEEN appointed Centara’s new VP of business development. He has 28 years of experience developing hotel and resort businesses, a career that includes positions with HPL and Como Hotels and most recently Resorts Holdings International.

His appointment marks another significant Centara move in their five year plan to double the company’s size and become a major regional hospitality brand.

He will report to Centara’s Deputy CEO Markland Blaiklock. He will be responsible for executing the company’s plan to grow from 58 to 134 hotels over the next five years.

Mr. Blaiklock himself was brought on board in October to lead the expansion strategy. In the weeks since then, Centara has already launched its new affordable lifestyle hotel brand COSI; signed a joint venture to take ownership of Centra by Centara Government Complex Hotel & Convention Centre Cheang Watthana; announced a significant upgrade of its technology infrastructure in partnership with Oracle and IDeaS; and finalized an agreement with Nakheel to develop a family lifestyle resort in Dubai.

“Allen is a tenured industry expert with an impressive track record of growing the brand footprint of hotel and resort businesses in Asia and beyond. We are confident of meeting our expansion targets with a professional of Allen’s calibre leading our Business Development division,” said Thirayuth Chirativat, CEO, Centara Hotels & Resorts.

With this latest appointment, Centara’s management team is almost complete following its recent reorganization as it builds “a diverse and experienced leadership structure to set it up for continued future success”.

“Being family-friendly is part of our company DNA,” said Thirayuth Chirathivat, Centara’s CEO. “We work hard to welcome families with children and offer them a superior holiday experience. It starts with the design of the hotel and continues through family amenities, activity programmes, and service attitude. These awards are evidence we’re succeeding.”

TripAdvisor gives the awards annually, based on the reviews and opinions of millions of its users. The rankings are based on people who have stayed at each hotel during the past year.

Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort was the first true themed resort in Thailand. Its Lost World motif features several swimming pools, waterslides, giant sculptures and palm trees towering over a lazy river and Monsoon Island.

Children enjoy the Kids’ Club, E-zone, and organised activities supervised by hotel staff. The resort even has a family version of club level: its Zulu Family Club has a play area for toddlers while their parents enjoy an afternoon refreshment. The resort lies along a 230-metre stretch of sandy beach.

Like Centara Grand Mirage in Pattaya, Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket is a 5-star resort built around a waterpark with multiple pools, river, and waterslides. Its Kids’ Club and Camp Safari are complemented by a cliff jumping platform, and water sports in the Andaman Sea including kayaking, sailing, windsurfing and snorkelling. The resort features Sino-Portuguese style and has direct access to Karon Beach.

Centara Karon Resort is a unique concept for Phuket, featuring four distinct zones so guests can find the perfect match for their needs. Family amenities include rooms that easily accommodate four; three large swimming pools, including the Lagoon pool with two waterslides; and a Kids’ Club, Camp Safari, and E-Zone to keep children and teens entertained.

This year marks the third time Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort has won TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice award for family-friendly accommodations. Other Centara resorts in Thailand have received the recognition from TripAdvisor users each year since 2014. Centara was also recently listed among Smart Travel Asia’s Hot 25 Family Hotels.

ELEMENTS BOUTIQUE RESORT on Thailand’s island of Koh Samui has been renamed Sunset Coast Samui Resort & Villas and is now managed by AVANI Hotels and Resorts.

The resort is located on Taling Ngam Beach, a pristine secluded shoreline along southwestern Koh Samui Island. Visitors will feel like they’re on their own private island, but with Samui’s iconic island fun just around the corner.

Every room and villa at Sunset Coast Samui is beautifully decorated and well-appointed, from spacious terraces and balconies, complimentary high speed internet to indulgent rain showers. Plus great views.

Deluxe rooms have wide balconies that overlook the gardens and every villa has its own private pool and sunbathing terrace surrounded by lush gardens to enhance that secluded island feel.

The beachfront villas have direct beach access, with the two-bedroom beachfront villas having a dining area and kitchenette for ease and convenience for holidaying families.

Focusing on the concept of ‘honest food’ PANTRY offers a selection of fresh salads, hearty sandwiches and much more all washed down with cold-pressed juices. These meals are available through in-room dining as well, with prepared snacks available 24 hours a day. For liquid refreshment, there’s the Beverage Truck, parked by the beach and pool area.

Stay fit, have fun, explore the island: Being on holiday is not all about releaxing. For those who want to maintain their health regime, the fitness centre is open 24 hours a day with spa services available with advanced bookings. Sunset Coast Samui’s scheduled yoga or meditation classes are also available.

The secluded location makes the resort an attractive option for families and couples looking for meaningful and shared experiences with easy access to many coastal attractions, such as the nearby Five Islands, Ang Thong National Marine Park, the coral reefs of Koh Taen Island and the uncrowded pleasure of snorkelling in Koh Madsum.

There are also other ways to stay active at Sunset Coast Samui. Guests can try their hand at sea kayaking or stand-up paddle boarding. The soft sands offer the ideal surface for a game of beach volleyball or football, or perhaps a round of petanque.

About the Author

Jim Carr’s lifelong adventure with words began as a teacher of Latin grammar for five years, followed by 17 years as a reporter, editor and columnist in daily newspapers. He left journalism to become a communications specialist for a number of national and international companies.